Northwood, N.D. - Residents here are eligible for unemployment benefits if their workplace is not operational due to Sunday night's devastating tornado, Gov. John Hoeven said today.
The EF-4 tornado killed one, injured at least 18 people and affected 431 of the city's 460 homes. The twister destroyed 18 of the homes and caused major damage to 56 others.
Job Service North Dakota staff will be available starting at 8 a.m. Thursday at Alerus Financial, 503 Washington St., to provide information and assistance to applicants.
By filing a claim prior to midnight Saturday, residents can receive unemployment insurance benefits sooner.
Residents can also file a claim or ask questions concerning unemployment insurance benefits and eligibility requirements by logging on to www.jobsnd.com , or contacting the Unemployment Insurance Claims Center at (701) 328-4995.
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"Residents of the Northwood area are facing many challenges, and helping them obtain unemployment insurance benefits is an important part of our effort to help them recover," Hoeven said.
The Federal Emergency Management Administration plans join state and local officials today to conduct preliminary damage assessments as a step toward securing a presidential declaration for the damages suffered by homes and businesses in the city.
The National Guard sent 100 soldiers to assist with debris removal, security, heavy equipment operations and communication support.
The Department of Health is coordinating environmental health, medical supply and patient care needs, while the Department of Human Services is coordinating voluntary agencies and has sent a crisis mental health team to the area.
The Insurance Department is providing information to policy holders and evaluating public infrastructure for indemnity from the state's Fire and Tornado Fund, which covers public buildings.
The Department of Emergency Services, Department of Transportation, Highway Patrol, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters and North Dakota Electrical Board are also providing assistance in the city.
For daily updates, read www.inforum.com throughout the day. More information and photos will be available in Thursday's Forum.
